Can palletizer

ABSTRACT

This invention relates generally to a handling system and method of arranging a group of cans into a predetermined pattern and thereafter transferring successive groups of arranged cans to a pallet to form a series of layers of cans thereon. More particularly this invention includes an endless conveyor means for successively feeding a series of cans along a first predetermined path with means located adjacent said endless conveyor for arranging cans moving along the endless conveyor into two rows of longitudinally staggered cans as they move along the conveyor. Operatively associated with the can feeding and orienting means adjacent one end thereof is pushover mechanism for moving substantially simultaneously the two rows of the oriented cans from the conveyor onto an accumulator tray. A receiving pallet means is supported adjacent the can accumulator means. A carriage support mechanism is supported above the accumulator and the receiving pallet for transferring a group of the oriented cans from the accumulator to the receiving pallet in such a manner as to form a series of layers of the cans on the receiving pallet. A slip-sheet layer separator means is disposed adjacent the receiving pallet and beneath the carriage transfer means. The carriage transfer means includes a magnetic pick-up head for engaging and picking up a layer of oriented cans from the accumulator and transferring the cans to the receiving pallet. Also disposed on the carriage adjacent the magnetic pickup head is a vacuum pick up head which is detailed for engaging a slip-sheet layer separator means. The magnetic pick-up head and the vacuum pick-up head are operatively associated with each other and controlled in such a manner that as the magnetic pickup head moves from a position over the can accumulator means to a position over the receiving pallet, the vacuum pick-up head will move concurrently therewith to a position over the slip-sheet layer separator means for engaging and picking up a slip-sheet layer separator, and as the carriage is moved to position the magnetic pick-up head over the accumulator tray, the vacuum pickup head is moved to a position to deposit a slip-sheet layer separator on top of a layer of oriented cans which have been stacked on the receiving pallet. Operatively associated with the receiving pallet means is a pallet magazine which contains a series of pallets. The pallet magazine includes means for dispensing pallets individually to the pallet receiving station as they are required. A conveyor means is operatively associated with the receiving pallet means for transferring a loaded pallet away from the palletizing station for further handling as required.

United States Patent Von Gal, Jr. et al.

[151 3,682,290 [45] Aug. 3, 1972 1 CAN PALLETIZER [72] Inventors: George E. Von Gal, Jr., 3408 Thomas Ave.; Mabry S. Phillips, Jr., 3144 Woodfem Dr.; Lawrence A. Hutchinson, 3431 Cloverdale Rd., all of Montgomery, Ala. 36104 [22] Filed: Oct.31,l969

[21] Appl. No.: 873,054

[52] US. Cl. ..198/2l, 198/31 AA, 214/6 FS [51] Int. Cl. ..B65g 47/42 [58] FieldofSearclr.....2l4/6 l-l,6K,6P,6FS,6M,

214/6 N; 198/21, 24, 30, 31 AL; 53/61 Small .L ..2l4/6 H X Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar Attomey-Newton, Hopkins & Ormsby ABSTRACT This invention relates generally to a handling system and method of arranging a group of cans into a predetermined pattern and thereafter transferring successive groups of arranged cans to a pallet to form a series of layers of cans thereon. More particularly this invention includes an endless conveyor means for successively feeding a series of cans along a first predetermined path with means located adjacent said endless conveyor for arranging cans moving along the endless conveyor into two rows of longitudinally staggered cans as they move along the conveyor. Operatively associated with the can feeding and orienting means adjacent one end thereof is pushover mechanism for moving substantially simultaneously the two rows of the oriented cans from the conveyor onto an accumulator tray. A receiving pallet means is supported adjacent the can accumulator means. A carriage support mechanism is supported above the accumulator and the receiving pallet for transferring a group of the oriented cans from the accumulator to the receiving pallet in such a manner as to form a series of layers of the cans on the receiving pallet. A slip-sheet layer separator means is disposed adjacent the receiving pallet and beneath the carriage transfer means. The carriage transfer means includes a magnetic pick-up head for engaging and picking up a layer of oriented cans from the accumulator and transferring the cans to the receiving pallet. Also disposed on the carriage adjacent the magnetic pick-up head is a vacuum pick up head which is detailed for engaging a slip-sheet layer separator means. The magnetic pick-up head and the vacuum pick-up head are operatively associated with each other and controlled in such a manner that as the magnetic pick-up head moves from a position over the ,can acc ula or means to a ositron over the receiving p et, e vacuum pic -up head will move concurrently therewith to a position over the slip-sheet layer separator means for engaging and picking up a slip-sheet layer separator, and as the carriage is moved to position the magnetic pick-up head over the accumulator tray, the vacuum pick-up head is moved to a position to deposit a slip-sheet layer separator on top of a layer of oriented cans which have been stacked on the receiving pallet.

Operatively associated with the receiving pallet means is a pallet magazine which contains a series of pallets. The pallet magazine includes means for dispensing pallets individually to the pallet receiving station as they are required. A conveyor means is operatively associated with the receiving pallet means for transferring a loaded pallet away from the palletizing station for further handling as required.

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MABRY S. PHILLIPS, JR.

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1. An article accumulator system for use in arranging a multiplicity of articles into a predetermined pattern coMprising, in combination: a. means supported on said system for successively feeding a series of articles along a first predetermined path; b. means supported on said system adjacent said feeding means for orienting said articles into two adjacent rows of longitudinally aligned articles, as the articles are moved along said first path, with the articles of one of said rows being longitudinally staggered in offset relationship with the articles of an adjacent row; c. means supported on said system adjacent said successive feeding means for simultaneously moving said two rows of said oriented articles along a second predetermined path; d. control means operatively associated with said simultaneous moving means for effecting operation of said moving means; e. first sensing means operatively associated with said control means for rendering said control means effective in response to sensing the location of a predetermined article of one of said rows, said first sensing means detailed in location relative to said two rows of articles for sensing a correct longitudinally offset orientation of said two adjacent rows of articles; and, f. second sensing means operatively associated with said control means for initiating a cycle of operation of said control means in response to actuation of said second sensing means, said second sensing means including a photocell detailed in angular location in such a manner as to only sense individual articles in said other row and being operable between an open and closed condition and wherein actuation of said second sensing means for initiating said cycle of operation is operable in response to said second sensing means being in said closed condition for a predetermined period of time and thus having sensed completion of sad predetermined pattern.
 2. In an article accumulator system as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said simultaneous moving means is detailed for cyclic movement a first predetermined amount corresponding in distance to the width of said rows of oriented articles and wherein a first sensing means is operatively associated with said cyclic operation of said moving means for sensing said first predetermined amount and effecting a return of said moving means to a home position in response to completion of said first predetermined amount.
 3. In an article accumulator system as described in claim 2, further characterized in that said simultaneous moving means is detailed for cyclic movement a second predetermined amount in response to movement of said rows of oriented articles a predetermined distance along said second predetermined path, sensing means operatively associated with movement of oriented articles along said second predetermined path for rendering said first cyclic operation sensing means inoperative, and wherein s second sensing means is operatively associated with said cyclic operation of said moving means for sensing said second predetermined amount and effecting a return of said moving means to a home position in response to completion of said second predetermined amount.
 4. In an article accumulator system as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said successive feeding means includes a guide means adjacent each side of said feeding means for maintaining said articles in said oriented rows as they move along said first predetermined path, said guide means includes a moveable portion adjacent said simultaneous moving means mounted for movement between an extended guiding position and a retracted non-guiding position to allow oriented articles to be moved along said second predetermined path and wherein said moveable guide means includes control means operable in response to an actuation of said timed sensing means to effect movement of said moveable guide means to said retracted position.
 5. In an article accumulator system as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said system includes an accumulator tray located adjacent said simulTaneous moving means for receiving said oriented rows of simultaneously moved articles, and wherein said accumulator tray includes an abutment guide means for maintaining said oriented articles in correct staggered alignment in said rows.
 6. In an article accumulator system as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said oriented articles are of cylindrical shape and wherein an offset article of one row is in abutting contact with two articles of an adjacent row.
 7. In an article accumulator system as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said oriented articles are of cylindrical shape and wherein a common line drawn tangent to all the articles of one row will overlap and be substantially parallel to a common line drawn tangent to all the articles of an adjacent row.
 8. In an article accumulator system as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said orienting means includes a pair of transversely spaced rotatable article orienting means, with one of said rotatable orienting means located adjacent each side of said article feeding means whereby an article moving along said feeding means will pass between said rotatable orienting means and wherein each of said rotatable orienting means includes a series of article receiving portions separated by article camming portions, with the article receiving portion of one rotatable means being in rotatable alignment with respect to the article camming portions of said other rotatable means.
 9. In an article accumulator system as described in claim 1 further characterized in that said pair of rotatable orienting means are supported for counter-rotating movement and are detailed in spaced relationship relative to each other in such a manner that the article camming portion of one rotatable means will cam an article being fed thereto into the article receiving portion of the other rotatable means and wherein rotatable alignment means is operatively connected between said pair of rotatable orienting means for maintaining correct angular alignment between article receiving portions and article camming portions whereby successive articles being fed along said feeding means will be alternately moved to said oriented rows of articles. 